Is a woman going out to work lawful or forbidden?
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The questioner : She says in her message: I ask whether a woman going out to work is lawful or forbidden. I have gone out to work after graduating, but I often hold myself accountable for this and ask whether my Lord, Mighty and Majestic, is pleased with me or not. Please advise us and guide us, may you be rewarded. A young woman from Yemen.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Pious, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. A woman going out of her home for a need is not a problem, especially if she goes out to meet the needs of others, such as going to school to teach Muslim women. In this case, she is rewarded for going out because she went out to fulfill the needs of others and secure their benefit. However, it is obligatory that when she goes out of her home, she does not go out displaying her adornment, wearing makeup, or using perfume. She must be covered with the Shari'ah hijab, which is covering the face and whatever is exposed that leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). She must not mix with men, because mixing with men is a cause of fitnah. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 678Sahih (Al-Albani) This is an indication from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the farther a woman is from mingling with men, the better it is for her. So, O woman, go out of your home to work in the school, and in other jobs if you need to go out, provided there is no mixing, no displaying of adornment, and no use of perfume. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Pious, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. A woman going out of her home for a need is not a problem, especially if she goes out to meet the needs of others, such as going to school to teach Muslim women. In this case, she is rewarded for going out because she went out to fulfill the needs of others and secure their benefit. However, it is obligatory that when she goes out of her home, she does not go out displaying her adornment, wearing makeup, or using perfume. She must be covered with the Shari'ah hijab, which is covering the face and whatever is exposed that leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). She must not mix with men, because mixing with men is a cause of fitnah. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
the best of the men’s row is the first and the worst of them is the last, but the best of the women’s rows is the last and the worst of them is the first.
خير صفوف الرجال أولها وشرها ءاخرها وخير صفوف النساء ءاخرها وشرها أولهاThe questioner : May Allah bless you.